Another Reason to Hate the Red Sox

A recent article on RedSoxRUs.com (aka ESPN) shows yet another reason to hate these idiots. Apparently they don’t’ want the individuals to care. If we’re winning, who cares if you have a bad at bat? Apparently Youkilis does and Manny Ramirez took a swing at him because he got upset.

It all happened because Manny complained about Youkilis’ habit of throwing bats, helmets and other objects in the dugout when he has a bad at-bat, something that has become a constant practice,” the source said.

“Other players have told Youkilis in the past about the situation, which makes him look selfish and that he is more worried about each at-bat than about the team. If Boston is winning easily, there’s no reason to throw objects all over the dugout because of a bad at-bat.

“There was a meeting where the team let Youkilis know that many of his teammates were tired of his explosive reactions for each bad plate appearance. It became very bothersome … more so when the team is winning and it’s in first place. There’s not much room for individualistic attitudes.”

Are you kidding me? A guy cares enough to take each at bat seriously and push himself and you get pissed at him? A guy has some fire and you criticize him for it?  What a classless team.

An Open Letter to Kyle Farnsworth

Dear Kyle-

I could start this by saying you suck, but that would not adequately illustrate the depths of my feelings toward you.  The Yankees signed you to bridge the gap from the starters to Rivera in a way that Tom Gordon did in the games that didn’t count.  They signed you despite your meltdown in Atlanta.  At first I thought you were merely overrated.  A pitcher with great stuff that really couldn’t place pitches to get anyone out.  Now I know I was wrong.

Sir you are a waste of space in our bullpen.  At this point I’d rather the Yankees signed 73 year old John Franco to set up Rivera.  I watched you last night come into a tie game and my heart sank.  Sure, Pettite didn’t have the best stuff, but he did leave you with a 5-5 tie against the Twins.  All you needed to do was hold the tie.  Instead, you give up three (3) hits and a walk in one inning, blow the lead in the bottom of the eighth and hand the Twins the game.  Bravo sir, bravo.

To make matters worse, you’re the answer.  Joe Girardi and the coaching staff have decided to show some confidence in you.  They must see something I don’t because I see plenty of garbage runs in close games.  Runs that make a one run gap a three run hole.  Runs that don’t allow the Yankees to play small ball but get the hitters thinking they need to hit homeruns.  And now Joba is being put in the starting rotation.  I know the kid is great, but he’s not going to pitch complete games every outing.  He’s going to hand the ball off to you meaning you’ll have a change to blow more and more shots to win close ball games.

I have a simple request sir:  demand a trade.  The New York fans don’t like you as a pitcher, you should let the pressure build and demand a trade.  Take LaTroy Hawkins with you.  We need some pitchers with heart, not overpaid veterans that don’t show up everynight. 

Signed,

The Ghost of John Wetteland

p.s. Please tell Joe Girardi that we need Joba back to shore up the bullpen and someday take over for Mo Rivera.

You Sound Gay…

I just got the best prank call ever.  It was possibly the most childish thing ever and I’m sitting here on the couch giggling at it still.  Here is a transcript [with my commentary included]:

Ring [Private Caller]
Me:  Hello?
Caller:  [An 8 year old with what I realize now was the worst ever put on southern accent, on top of his normal sourthenr accent] Can I speak to Vern?
Me:  I think you have the wrong number.
Caller:  I don’t think so!!  [At this point I should have realized that it was a kid fucking with me, but at the same time I was wondering if it was some half-retarded kid who was trying, for the first time in his life, to call one of his friends or relatives without his mother operating the phone and then holding it to his ear].
Me:  Well who are you trying to reach?
Caller:  [Silence that comes with thinking] Um, Michelle or Patrick or someone named like that.  That’s their last name.  [Now you’d think I’d realize that this little fat kid in the stained shirt (which is how I’m imagining him at this point) is yanking my chain because he doesn’t realize who he’s fucking calling, but no I’m trying to help him out, which is evident based on my next question]
Me:  Well what number are you calling?
Caller:  7-3-2-5-9-1-6-um-7? 
Me:  [Still not catching on] Well none of those people are here and you’ve got the wrong number there. 
Caller:  You sound gay… click.

The second I heard that I realized that two or more eight year old boys were in their grandmother’s house and laughing until they peed their pants.  I half thought about calling them back via *69, but then realized why scare them?  I thought it was a stroke of genius, and who am I to deny boys from turning into adult smart-asses.  I’m sure that in a different universe we would have called each other… friend.  Kind of like Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. in that movie Enemy Mine. 

Bravo snot-nose, bravo

Not Cool Google, Not Cool at All

I’m very upset to see that is supporting laws arounf the world that damage freedom of expression. Google should, as an American country, not support laws that foreign countries pass such as those that restrict political or religious speech. It’s always democracies that try to do it too, France, India, etc. Freedom of Expression means NO LAW. Who really cares if Sonia Gandhi is insulted? Political leaders have to be above having their feelings hurt if they’re called names or cursed at.

What’s the next step, preventing the media from questioning political leaders’ policies or motives?  Google, you’re making me question my iGoogle page that I’ve recently created.

And Now For Something Completely Different

So WordPress has this nifty new photoblog style, so I started one. Fixed My Life, in a sense it’s the negative of this site. Not as much ranting and raving, much more serene.

More ESPN Anti-Yankee Bias

I like how ESPN’s article on over celebrating in baseball features (on the front page no less) a picture of Joba Chamberlain crossed out AND calls Paul O’Neill boorish and childish. Paul O’Neill was one of the hardest working players ever. Don’t tell me he’s boorish just because you hate it when he’s both competitive and a winner. I am so tired of ESPN being biased against the Yankees.

I am not saying that Joba shouldn’t shut up a little, but he’s no Jeremy Shockey! He’s a kid who gets excited from time to time. I’m also not saying that the article is solely anti-Yankee. I’m just a little sick and a lot tired of the way ESPN covers the Yankees. For too long it’s been the New York “Worst Team to Ever Exist” Yankees versus the Boston “Sweet Innocent” Red Sox and the rest of the league who are helpless to get better because of some vast Yankees conspiracy.

It’s also a larger problem with ESPN. Once upon a time the network covered sports. You know, games, innings, plays? What happened during the games, the story and drama that unfolded because of who hit or caught what. It’s time that ESPN stops making up the stories by injecting it’s bullshit drama, including it’s anti Yankee drama.

I’m Done With Home Depot

So in my 30s, something has happened and made me into a gardener.  Since we moved into our new house I built two garden boxes so Shannon and I can grow tomatoes, peppers, other veggies, etc. One of the things that I take pride in is planting without the use of a lot of chemicals and the such. I’ve developed the soil mix, added my own compost comprised of our family scraps, added manure as needed, etc.

This spring, I went to the local Home Depot to purchase soil, peat moss, manure, etc. to thow down on the garden so it could soak in the recent rains. Much to my surprise, Home Depot had a very limited selection of soils that were not pre-fertilized with Miracle-Gro or some other Scott’s product. There was no Peat Moss without it. Last year the Miracle-Gro products were in the minority.

The Home Depot employees told me that pre-fertilized soil was the norm this year and that I was out of luck if I wanted local or just normal soil. I asked them to let their manager know I was unhappy and would like the normal soil to be restocked, and they told me it was a purely central office decision. So, I wrote Home Depot with my request. Here is the lame response they sent me:

Thank you for contacting The Home Depot Customer Care.

As the world’s largest home improvement retailer, and an industry leader
on the environment, providing non-toxic, organic land care product is
something The Home Depot takes very seriously.

We are committed to working with our vendors to conserve and preserve
natural resources.

We take consumer concerns about non–toxic products very seriously and
continue to review the situation with industry and state.

We look forward to your continued patronage and assisting you with all
of your home improvement needs.

Sincerely,

Dharmendra
Customer Care

All I can say is, what a lame response. I can understand wanting to offer Miracle-Gro products at a higher price/profit margin, but to not offer low-priced local soil and peat moss that contains no additives is just silly. And then to claim that they offer a wide variety of organic products seems like they think I’m stupid. So, I’m done with Home Depot. No more plants, soils, veggies, etc. I may also consider not shopping there for the new grill I want to buy, the yard tools I need from time-to-time, the filters for my furnace, lumber, shelving materials, etc. As a consumer, I’m insulted.